[6-text p 246] that we haue offendit & greuyd myn lord Melibee out of mesure [2936] so fer forth that we been nat of poweer / to makyn hise amendis / [2937] And therfore we obligyn & byndyn vs & oure frendis for to doon his wil / & al his comaundementz / [2938] but perauenture he hath swich heuynesse & swich wrathe to vsward / by cause of oure offence [2939] that he wele enioynyn vs swich a peyne as we mowe nat bere ne sustene / [2940] And therfore noble lady we besekyn to thyn womanly pete / [2941] to takyn swich auysement / in this neede / that we ne oure frendis been nat diseritid ne distroyed / thorw oure folye [2942]
CErtis quod Prudence / it is an hard thyng [et per|illeuse] [2943] that a man putte hym al vtreely in arbitracioun / and Iugement & in the mygh & power of hyse enemyis / [2944] ffor Salomon seyth / Leeuyth me [folio 347b] & ȝeuyth credence to that that I schal seyn / I seye quod he the puple / folk / & gouernouris of holy cherche [2945] to thyn sone to thyn wif / to thyn frend ne to thyn brothyr [2946] ne ȝeue thow neuere mygh ne maystrye / of thyn body whil thow leuyst [2947] ¶ Now sithyn that he defendyth that a man schulde nat ȝeuyn to hise brothir ne to his frend the myȝt of hise body / [2948] by a strongere resoun / he defendith & forbedyth a man / to ȝeuyn hym self to his enemy / [2949] And nathe|les I conseyle ȝow that ȝe mystruste nat myn lord / [2950] for I wot weel & knowe verrayly / that he is debonayre / and meeke large curteys / [2951] & no|thyng desyrous / ne coueytous of good ne rychesse / [2952] for there ne is no thyng in this world / that he desiryth; saue only worschepe & honour / [2953] fferthere-moore I knowe & am ryȝt sekyr that he schal nothyng doon in this neede with-outyn myn conseyl / [2954] And I schal so werkyn in this cause / that by the grace of oure lord god ȝe schul been reconsyled vn-to vs
[2955] Thanne seydyn they with oon wois / worschepe|ful
